On the Path... a winter walk February 16th, 2014

The cold weather we've had of late has kept me indoors more than I should let it. Today was more bearable so I went for my walk. A camera in hand gives more reason to go, though today there was little that caught my eye.

Not many weeks from now, this will be one of the tree tunnels on the path. Sun and a bright blue sky make any day more pleasing.

Silver Maple tree bundled buds are biding their time... ready to burst open at their appointed time. They're one of the earliest trees in our area to bloom.

 

We take our seasons for granted, but it really is remarkable how they come & go on schedule. Astronomers tell us that the earth travels around the sun at about 66,000 miles per hour, or about one and a half million miles per day. 

That means we're about 50 million miles from spring. It's all mind boggling when you think about it. 

It also brings to mind a quote I always got a kick out of:
"Life on earth can be hard, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year".

Silver Maple buds...

There are a number of things I check on my walks. One is this log with fungus on its end. The fungi have melded into a frozen mass.

In the woods at the top of the path there are Birch, Hemlock, Oak and Maples. Young Birch hold their leaves through winter. Many Oak do too.

I didn't see any squirrels today. Some are probably tucked away in these two nests. They both looked to be in good shape and a good size.

Looking like decorated frosting on a cake, these Cedar leaves were no doubt weaker ones, brought down by the strong winds we had a few days ago.

Nature sculpted this small figurine of a woman, wrapped in a blanket, having an afternoon snooze.

Whiter than white. I thought the snow looked white until I saw this Birch. The lenticles are clearly visible and the bark looks even fresher than the new fallen snow.

This looked very unusual. I think it's two trees joined by a lateral branch to form an 'H'. I'll have a much closer look when the snow around them isn't so deep.

This leaf caught my eye. With its stem caught in the snow, it was pirouetting in a very slight breeze. Maybe I should shoot a video now & then.

It's always a joy to meet friends on the path. The gentleman happens to be my barber. We always stop for a brief chat.

Another result of the strong wind we had... snow, pounded into the grooves of the bark. I don't remember seeing it quite like this before. That's why it caught my eye.

The majority of Black Locust seed pods hang on the trees through winter, but inevitably some fall to the ground. In spring, the rest will. Which of the thousands of seeds that eventually fall will become a tree? Some for sure. The stand of Black Locusts across the street is slowly spreading.

Nothing I captured today could be called particularly exciting, but it reminded me once again, on this cold winter day, of how important nature is in my life. 

It's beyond words. It's a feeling. As some wise soul once said, "Thoughts run deeper than words, feelings run deeper than thoughts".

- fini -